World Snooker Championship 2015 Preview - Can Selby Defy The Crucible Curse? | Maximum Snooker - Snooker news, snooker videos, snooker pictures, snooker links | MaximumSnooker com Snooker News & Snooker Views With Stephen Kent World Snooker Championship 2015 Preview - Can Selby Defy The Crucible Curse? 32 players, 17 days, one World Champion. The eyes of the snooker world descend on the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, to see who will win the most prestigious prize in the sport, the Betfred World Snooker Championship 2015. Read on for the full tournament preview... Article by Adam Brown . Mark Selby photo by Monique Limbos . Who can survive the physical and mental demands that are put upon them throughout the 17 days and lift the trophy on May 4th 2015, in what I believe is the most open World Snooker Championships there has been for years. All the records suggest Mark Selby has a mountain to climb if he is to defend his world title this year.

The famous ‘Curse Of The Crucible’ is the biggest obstacle for Selby as no first time champion has come back to the Crucible the following year and successfully defend their crown. Another obstacle in front of Selby is his winning of the China Open two weeks ago, as no player has ever won both the China Open and World Championship in the same year. However Selby loves the Crucible and his determination and will to win are perfect qualities to go the distance. Ronnie O’Sullivan is once again the strong bookies’ favourite and has quietly gone under the radar compared to years gone by. Ronnie’s form is slightly concerning and his defeat to Judd Trump at the World Grand Prix showed that he can be beaten in main finals and has chinks in his armour. However O’Sullivan usually saves his best form for Sheffield and will be tough to beat over the longer format. He is also looking to equal Reardon and Davis's record of Six World Titles and leave himself one behind the great Stephen Hendry. Other contenders? Judd Trump is in red hot form right now, he has slowly got better as the season has gone on and has perhaps peaked in time to win his maiden World Snooker Championship title.

Australia's Neil Robertson has had a quiet year by his standards and has suffered a few first round exits in tournament; however the 2010 World Champion knows how to win in Sheffield and if on top form, will be very difficult to beat. 10 years after his first success, Shaun Murphy probably has the best chance he has ever had to claim a second title. His demolition of Neil Robertson in the Masters Final was a strong indication of how confident he is feeling and could add a second Crucible crown to his ever growing list of achievements. Former World Snooker Champions John Higgins and Mark Williams have been back to winning form this season and are more than capable of putting a run together and adding to their collection of world titles. Ali Carter and Barry Hawkins have both made the final in past few years so is it possible they can do it again? Can Ding Junhui overcome his poor record at The Crucible to become the first player from China to reach the world final and possibly go on to win it? Will Marco Fu and Stuart Bingham get what their dedication and hard work deserves?

Whatever happens and whoever wins, it promises to be an excellent display of snooker and 17 days of intense drama and a number of twists and turns will take place before crowning the 2015 World Snooker Champion on May 4th. World Snooker Championship 2015 - Match Previews Mark Selby First Quarter: Mark Selby (1) v Kurt Maflin This first match has potential to be tough for the defending champion. Maflin beat Steve Davis very easily and came through a tight decider against Fergal O’Brien in the qualifiers and is up to a career high 38 in the World Rankings. However I think Selby will be ready to defend and should dispatch the Norwegian comfortably. My Prediction: Mark Selby Stephen Maguire (16) v Anthony McGill Stephen Maguire will have to be on his game if he is too win this all-Scot clash. Anthony McGill is improving year by year and has put some strong performances against good players this season. Maguire is due a good tournament in Sheffield and although it will be close I think he will just edge this match.

My Prediction: Stephen Maguire Joe Perry (9) v Zhang Anda Zhang is the lowest ranked player left in the World Championship and has a tough opening match against Joe Perry. Perry recently won his first ranking event last month and has a good record at The Crucible and should edge out Zhang who performed valiantly on his last appearance at the World Championships, narrowly losing to Stephen Hendry. My Prediction: Joe Perry Shaun Murphy (8) v Robin Hull Shaun Murphy is my pick for the entire event and I think he will get off to a solid start against Robin Hull. The Finnish player drew Ronnie O’Sullivan last year and has another draw here. He will have to be on top form to have any chance. My Prediction: Shaun Murphy Neil Robertson Second Quarter: Barry Hawkins (5) v Matt Selt Not an easy start for Barry Hawkins. He has had an up and down season but is much more comfortable at the Crucible then many other venues in the UK. It has taken Ronnie O’Sullivan to beat him the last two years and although Selt will be tough to overcome, I expect Hawkins to win. My Prediction: Barry Hawkins Mark Allen (12) v Ryan Day Another cracking match.

Ryan Day is slowly claiming up the rankings again and has the top 16 in his sights. Mark Allen has the potential to have a great tournament but may find this opening match very difficult. My Prediction: Ryan Day Ali Carter (13) v Alan McManus Just seeing Ali Carter here is a massive positive and I feel he will have prepared properly for this tournament and will be up for this match. Alan McManus is a tough competitor and very gritty, however a lot of people will hope Carter can get through and I think he will. My Prediction: Ali Carter Neil Robertson (4) v Jamie Jones Can’t see anything past a win for the Australian. While Jamie Jones is very talented, I think Neil Robertson will be totally focused on trying to win a second crown and will win easily. My Prediction: Neil Robertson Judd Trump Third Quarter: Ding Junhui (3) v Mark Davis Ding won’t be happy with this draw and I think he will struggle to get over the line here. He never seems comfortable at The Crucible and I think he will suffer an early round exit. Mark Davis is playing very well and despite losing to Ding in the China Open, he will just squeeze through to round two.

My Prediction: Mark Davis John Higgins (14) v Robert Milkins The closest match in terms of the rankings as Robert is ranked No 17 in the world. The 4 time champion Higgins Is back into some form after claiming the Welsh Open crown but has a real tough encounter here. Milkins has beat Neil Robertson in a first round match two years ago, however I think he will just lose out to the Wizard of Wishaw. My Prediction: John Higgins Marco Fu (11) v Jimmy Robertson Not many people will have heard of Jimmy Robertson as he makes his second Crucible appearance but he has a tough task overcoming Marco Fu. Fu goes through tournaments unnoticed sometimes and he will want to get off to a solid start and I think he will with a win here. My Prediction: Marco Fu Judd Trump (6) v Stuart Carrington The one man in the draw Stuart Carrington wouldn’t have wanted to get was Judd Trump. Trump is on fire at the moment and is rightly one of the favourites here. I think he will come up short for the tournament I expect to win easily here and book his place in round two.

My Prediction: Judd Trump Ronnie O'Sullivan World Snooker Championship 2015: Round 1 Scores, Results, Updated Draw, Schedule | Bleacher Report World Snooker Championship 2015: Round 1 Scores, Results, Updated Draw, Schedule By Stuart Newman , Featured Columnist Apr 18, 2015 Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow Aijaz Rahi/Associated Press 0 Comments The 2015 World Snooker Championship kicked off this week, as 32 of the best players in the business descended on the famous Crucible Theatre in Sheffield for three weeks of scintillating green baize action. Mark Selby lifted the coveted trophy last year after a thrilling final against Ronnie O’Sullivan, and both stars return looking for further success. Selby, the Jester from Leicester, reigned supreme at last week’s China Open and comes into the tournament in red-hot form. However, as we’ve seen in tournaments of the past, nothing is guaranteed on the intimidating Crucible stage, especially in the best-of-19 early format.

Here, we take you through the best of the action from the first round, as 32 become 16 this week. Read on for an updated schedule, draw and daily recaps. World Snooker Championship 2015 Schedule Mahesh Kumar A/Associated Press Judd Trump (Eng) vs. Stuart Carrington (Eng) Shaun Murphy (Eng) vs. Robin Hull (Fin) Aijaz Rahi/Associated Press Judd Trump 10-6 Stuart Carrington Having ended Wednesday evening's session with a 7-2 lead, Judd Trump struggled to attain the same comfort when resuming against Stuart Carrington on Thursday before claiming a 10-6 triumph. The 2011 World Snooker Championship finalist managed three 50-plus breaks in Wednesday's nine-frame outing, but went on to record just three on Thursday as Carrington looked to turn the tables. Grimsby-born Carrington showed his intent to clinch a second-round berth, too, notching a 97 break in Thursday's opening frame to reduce the gap to four and pull his opponent closer within reach.

Had the 24-year-old shown that same vigour in the previous day's competition, he might have eked his way into the next phase of the contest, but Trump had enough of a cushion to see off the threat. In fact, Carrington outclassed Trump four frames to three on Thursday, mustering breaks of 97, 74, 70 and 99 along the way, but it proved a case of too little, too late. Trump did his best to finish his first round in style, signing off with a magnificent 109 clearance to seal the tie and set up a fixture opposite Marco Fu on Sunday. Shaun Murphy 10-3 Robin Hull After an overnight respite, Shaun Murphy completed his dismantling of outsider Robin Hull on Thursday with a 10-3 victory that sees him through to the next round of the World Snooker Championship. Murphy ended Wednesday's session with a 7-3 lead, having held a six-frame advantage at one stage, but Hull didn't have it in his arsenal to muster a last-gasp revival.

Crucially, eighth-seed Murphy had a success rate of 64 percent in his long-pot attempts, while Hull was substantially inferior in that regard with a success rate of 35 percent. The underdog did show some fight in being able to take the 12th frame from his opponent, despite Murphy managing a break of 64, but the gulf in class was clear as the latter sealed his win with a break of 111 in the last frame. Murphy will take on Joe Perry in the last 16 as he looks to make another run at the world title a decade after claiming snooker's top prize at this very location. KIN CHEUNG/Associated Press Judd Trump 7-2 Stuart Carrington Judd Trump stormed out to a 7-2 lead against Crucible newcomer Stuart Carrington on Wednesday, setting up a likely place in the second round. The duo will return to the table on Thursday. The 24-year-old Carrington is seen as one of the sport's most talented youngsters, but his nerves clearly got the better of him early against the experienced Trump. The World No.

6 cruised to a 4-1 lead, despite only amassing a high break of 55, before building his lead to five frames toward the end of the session. An expert at long pots and difficult shots, Trump cleverly kept things simple on Wednesday, utilising snookers and safeties to put the pressure on the Crucible debutant. A break of 85 in the final frame highlighted what was an excellent day for Trump, who ranks among the favourites to win this year's title. Matthew Stevens 10-2 Mark Williams Matthew Stevens beat Mark Williams 10-2 on Wednesday to set up a second-round meeting with Ronnie O'Sullivan. Stevens didn't even qualify for last year's event after playing the final in 2000 and 2005, but he was nothing short of fantastic against his fellow Welshman in the first round. Maximumsnooker.com's Steve was shocked by his quality: "Hugest surprise so far?

Matthew Stevens has obliterated Mark Williams 10-2(!) to set up a Last 16 match with Ronnie O'Sullivan #ilovesnooker ." Like most of Wednesday's clashes, this match was as one-sided as they come. Stevens came into the afternoon session with a high break of 111 and won a total of seven consecutive frames over the course of both sessions, taking advantage of some sloppy play from his opponent. Another 115 break set the tone for a quick afternoon session, and a fantastic 73 finish after Williams missed a chance at a maximum brought an emphatic end to the match. Stevens was satisfied with his performance but told reporters he will have to be far better in the second round, going up against the explosive O'Sullivan. Shaun Murphy 7-2 Robin Hull Shaun Murphy was fantastic during Wednesday's afternoon session, running out to a 7-2 lead over Robin Hull before one crucial mistake on the black handed his opponent the final frame before the interval. Hull was unlucky not to win at least three or four frames, but in truth, there was no stopping Murphy. His long pots were spectacular, as was his break-building.

BBC Snooker couldn't help itself: "This is what trailing 7-1 at The Crucible looks like. Hull getting a Murphy beating. One left in session. #bbcsnooker pic.twitter.com/04u4B03X6I ." Hull will return to the table during Thursday's evening session, but with the way Murphy dominated the first session, his bid to win this year's title seems all but over. Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-3 Craig Steadman Ronnie O'Sullivan cruised into the second round at the Crucible in Sheffield as he made short work of Craig Steadman, capitalising on a 7-2 overnight lead. The Rocket wasted no time in resuming his form in the 10th frame of the match, edging a scrappy exchange against the debutant. Steadman then surprised the former world champion as he built some temporary momentum and edged another close frame for 8-3. However, O'Sullivan quickly regained control and did not let his less experienced foe get a foothold in the contest.

The legend took the 12th 69-36, before hitting a solid break of 54 to close out the match. Joe Perry 10-4 Zhang Anda At the age of 40, Joe Perry is producing the best snooker of his career as he stormed to an 8-1 lead in his match with Zhang Anda. The Fen Potter hit a rich vein of consistency and kept Anda off the table for long periods as he tactically controlled the match. Perry took a quick-fire 2-0 lead as his Chinese opponent struggled to pot anything of significance. The Englishman then claimed a tight third frame, edging out Zhang, who had started to find his rhythm. But Perry's safety game was supreme, never allowing his opponent a clear opportunity to make a quality break. And this is how the next four frames continued, with Perry showing his experience at the highest level. He extended his lead to 6-0, with Zhang looking glum as he sat motionless in his seat. A seventh went to Perry, but Zhang finally found himself at the table, rattling off an excellent break of 80, leading to rapturous applause from the crowd to make it 7-1.

However, Perry was unaffected by Zhang's rally and dominated the ninth frame with a superb break of 87 to win the final frame of the session. During the evening session, Anda bounced back to win three more frames before Perry ended the match in emphatic fashion, booking his spot in the next round. Aijaz Rahi/Associated Press Ding Junhui 10-7 Mark Davis Ding Junhui managed to overcome Mark Davis 10-7 despite spurning a 147 opportunity on Tuesday morning. Having fallen 4-0 behind on Monday, Ding fought back to come into Tuesday's session just 4-3 down. England's Davis produced an excellent 106 break to move two frames clear once more, but Ding emphatically responded. The Chinese star looked on for a Crucible 147 after 12 reds and 12 blacks but inexplicably played up for the blue on the third-last red, seemingly forgetting he was on for a maximum, per BBC Sport . After a shake of the head on realisation, he attempted a difficult black, but it was not to be.

Despite the spurned opportunity, Ding looked to be back in the rhythm of things after a poor day on Monday. He led at 6-5, only for Davies to pull one back, but Ding then went within two frames of the second round as he moved into an 8-6 lead. Strong breaks of 73 and 85 saw the world No. 3 finish things off, and Ding now faces a last-16 match with four-time Crucible champion John Higgins. Ronnie O'Sullivan 7-2 Craig Steadman Ronnie O'Sullivan was a welcome sight at the Crucible on Tuesday, building a 7-2 lead over Craig Steadman and bringing a sense of theatre to Sheffield. The five-time world champion was predictably imperious, as he gradually established his dominant streak over Steadman, but the biggest headline came thanks to O'Sullivan's choice of footwear. Or lack thereof, that should read, with O'Sullivan removing the shoes he complained were hurting him and risking a fine by breaching the World Championship's dress code as a result, per BBC Sport .

Playing in his socks did nothing to deter the veteran, however, amassing a break of 104 in the very first frame and taking a 4-1 lead over Steadman. There was no sign of O'Sullivan slowing down, as he made breaks of 54 and 75 in the ninth frame, extending his lead to five in the process. The pair will resume play on Wednesday, where O'Sullivan need only pick up where he left off to move past Steadman and into the second round. Mark Allen 10-3 Ryan Day Ryan Day squandered a 3-1 lead to finish Tuesday's morning session 6-3 down to Mark Allen after a string of missed opportunities. The Welshman took a 2-0 lead before Allen responded with a frame-winning visit of 73. But Day then produced his own break of 79 to go into the mid-session interval with a commanding lead. However, on returning, Day looked to have lost his touch, as he missed a number of pots and squandered many opportunities to increase his lead. Allen won five frames on the bounce to take control of the match, finishing with a flourish with a break of 101.

And just as he had ended the morning session, Allen was relentless as things picked up in the evening, failing to surrender another frame before sealing his 10-3 triumph. As confirmed by Live Snooker, the victory also meant Allen succeeded in winning an incredible nine frames in a row to book his place in the second round: RESULT: Mark Allen rattles off an incredible nine consecutive frames to seal a 10-3 rout of Ryan Day! #ilovesnooker pic.twitter.com/Kt04vfQ7wW — Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) April 21, 2015 The Northern Irishman will meet No. 5 seed Barry Hawkins in the next phase of the competition, who claimed an edgy 10-9 win over Matthew Selt to get to this stage. Ali Carter 10-5 Alan McManus "I'm here to win this tournament" was the message laid down by World Snooker Championship contender Ali Carter after coming away from Tuesday's clash against Alan McManus with a 10-5 victory.

The 13th seed started with a flourish against his Scottish foe by breaking for a match-high 127 in the opening frame, telling Betfred afterward of his intention to duel for the highest prize on offer in Sheffield: "I'm here to win it!" Ali Carter set up a second round match v Neil Robertson after defeating McManus #ilovesnooker — Betfred (@Betfred) April 21, 2015 Despite that intimidating start on Tuesday, Carter did find McManus hard to shake, as the pair were tied 2-2 after four frames, but he eventually established enough of a cushion to begin pulling away. After slipping to a 5-2 frame deficit, McManus looked to be battling against the tide and needed to put together a run of frames if his Crucible hopes were to be rescued, but it never came. Two-time finalist Carter also commented that fitness was a factor for him coming into this contest, per BBC Sport : "I've been working hard on my fitness and the practice table. Peter Ebdon is here to help me on the practice table.

All things considered today will bring me on leaps and bounds and I'm here to win this tournament." Carter faces a difficult second-round fixture opposite fourth-seeded Neil Robertson next, where his hopes to be a title challenger will really be put to the test. Matthew Stevens 7-2 Mark Williams Welsh warriors Matthew Stevens and Mark Williams produced some spectacular snooker on Tuesday evening, where it was the former who claimed a fortuitous 7-2 lead heading into Wednesday's second session. That was despite Williams' best attempts to take the initiative in Sheffield by clinching the first frame, which turned out to be just the wake-up call his opponent needed. Stevens hit back with three successive frames of his own, but it was the camaraderie displayed by each competitor during the breaks that summed up what a terrific contest the pair were enjoying. The compatriots continued to treat their competition lightly off the felt, but it was all business for Williams as he endeavoured to reduce the deficit in front of him. The two exchanged a series of closely drawn frames, but it was Stevens who continued to succeed under pressure and build up a five-frame lead ahead of Wednesday's crescendo.

Image Source/Greg White/Associated Press Ali Carter 6-3 Alan McManus One of the most inspirational men in the world of snooker, Ali Carter made a successful return to the Crucible on Monday, taking a 6-3 lead over Alan McManus in their first session. The 35-year-old, who has now twice recovered from Cancer, as reported by The Guardian, played a nearly flawless first session. Taking full advantage of McManus' struggles with long pots, he kept his strokes clean and safe and showed excellent patience in building breaks. Carter has twice been runner-up in this tournament and isn't seen as one of the favourites for this year's title―months away from the table will do that for you―but he received the loudest cheer by far from the fans in Sheffield and showed he can still be a force on the table. McManus certainly didn't disappoint either on Monday, as this was one of the more entertaining matches of the first round, and fans can't wait to see what the two serve up when they return to the table on Tuesday.

Stuart Bingham 10–7 Robbie Williams Stuart Bingham needed 17 frames to get past Robbie Williams in a match that fell well short of expectations, leading to plenty of fans leaving their seats to go watch Carter and McManus square off on the other table. Sloppy, slow play and a general lack of creativity made for a dull viewing experience, and a multitude of errors didn't help, either. Mark Staniforth of the Press Association perhaps put it best: Seriously, this Bingham-Williams match is a throwback for all the wrong reasons. Where's Silvino Francisco when you need him? — Mark Staniforth (@markstani1) April 20, 2015 To his credit, Bingham kept his composure in the latter frames and finally pulled out the win, but with Graeme Dott waiting in the second round, you can't like the 38-year-old's chances if he keeps up this form. Neil Roberston 10-2 Jamie Jones Neil Robertson put together the best performance of the opening round so far, trashing Jamie Jones 10-2 to comfortably advance to the second round of the 2015 World Snooker Championship.

The Australian produced six total breaks over 50, including three centuries, setting up a date with the winner of the match between Ali Carter and Alan McManus. Maximumsnooker.com founder Steve shared some of his break totals: Strongest win of the tournament so far by Neil Robertson who made top runs of 52, 143, 109, 94, 56 & 133 to beat Jamie Jones 10-2 #snooker — Steve (@MaximumSnooker) April 20, 2015 Robertson entered Monday's session leading 7-2 and wasted no time getting off the table, hitting a 133 on his way to an emphatic win. He told Worldsnooker.com there's a good reason he looked so strong during the opening round: I have realised that I could have done more in the past. I wouldn’t say I have under-achieved in my career, but if had made bigger sacrifices then I could have won more. If my career ended now, I would be disappointed with what I have won.

So I’m going to continue to work hard next season, and the one after that, to get the best out of my ability. The 2010 winner has to be counted among the favourites to win this year's title, with the likes of Ding Junhui struggling all season and Ronnie O'Sullivan still looking for his best form. If Robertson's safety play holds up through the tournament, the World No. 4 will be a dangerous opponent for everyone. Ding Junhui 3–4 Mark Davis China's top player Ding won three consecutive frames to give himself a chance when his opening-round match against Mark Davis resumes on Tuesday, after falling 4-0 behind early. He has struggled throughout the season and carried his bad form straight into this contest, missing several key shots and struggling badly with his safeties in the opening frames. The match was played at a snail's pace, and Davis did an excellent job of frustrating his opponent by taking his time laying his snookers. Down 4-0, Ding appeared lost, but a long battle ahead of the colours in frame six turned things around. A break of 76 was exactly what he needed in the final frame, ensuring he'll carry some momentum into Tuesday's session.

Barry Hawkins 10-9 Matthew Selt Those in attendance at the Crucible were treated to a thrilling encounter in the morning session, as Barry Hawkins held off a stunning late fightback from Matthew Selt to win 10-9 in a deciding frame. Selt was trailing 7-2 at the resumption of play, and after some dominant potting from Hawkins in their previous session, the match seemed set to meander towards a close. Indeed, although Selt performed better on the second day of this epic encounter, with the scoreline at 9-4 in favour of Hawkins, the end seemed nigh, per Matt of ProSnookerBlog: Hawkins is 9-4 up on Selt now, while Bingham and Williams have split their first four, 2-2. — Matt (@ProSnookerBlog) April 20, 2015 But Selt responded superbly, rattling off some stunning breaks—including a run of 102, 109 and 94—to make it nine frames each. With five frames won on the bounce, suddenly the game was there for the taking with the scores level.

As noted by broadcaster George Riley, it was a remarkable effort from the Romford-born potter: What an effort from Matt Selt. 5 frames in a row from 9-4 to force a decider against Hawkins. Last 3 frames 102-109-94 wow #bbcsnooker — George Riley (@georgeyboy) April 20, 2015 With momentum behind him, Selt was the big favourite going into the deciding frame, but great credit must go to Hawkins. He used every ounce of his experience to get through the 19th stanza, capitalising on an early error from his opponent to get amongst the balls and establish an advantage. While Hawkins couldn’t construct a sizeable break, a couple of decent visits were enough to end Selt’s chances, who will lament his poor performance in the opening frames of this thrilling match. Hawkins will be concerned by the manner in which he toiled under the pressure of his opponent’s charge but will be buoyed with relief after edging through here.

Image Source/Greg White/Associated Press Stephen Maguire 9-10 Anthony McGill Anthony McGill forced his way through to the next round as he edged Stephen Maguire 10-9 in a titanic battle in Sheffield that went all the way to a decider. Maguire won four frames in a row from 9-5 down to force a final, deciding frame, but McGill produced a brilliant final break to deservedly win a gripping match. Crucible debutant McGill came into the evening session on Sunday leading 6-3 to his fellow Scot, but Maguire cut the gap to two as he won the opening frame. McGill won the next two frames, winning the 11th with a 97 break, but Maguire grabbed another back to see the score to 8-5 at the mid-session interval. Maguire looked often frustrated and went within one frame of his third consecutive first-round exit in the World Championship as McGill moved 9-5 ahead after the break. But the 34-year-old was not about to go out with a whimper, and he clawed back some momentum with two successive frame wins for 9-7 as his confidence grew.

Maguire then homed in on parity and a decider as he pulled back within one of his 24-year-old opponent, and he made it 9-9 after a cagey 18th frame. The young McGill was severely on the back foot heading into the last frame, but he showed maturity beyond his years as he was the first into the balls. He produced a terrific break of 122 to stop the Maguire juggernaut and head into the second round of the 2015 World Championship, where he will face defending champion Mark Selby. John Higgins 10-5 Robert Milkins Four-time Crucible champion John Higgins eased into the second round on Sunday as he beat England's Robert Milkins 10-5. The Scot went into Sunday's evening session with a comfortable 6-3 lead and extended it to 8-3 with a couple of frame-winning visits. Milkins failed to get on the scoreboard in frames 10 and 11 as Higgins posted breaks of 77 and 75, respectively. It looked a long way back for Milkins—ranked No. 17 in the world to Higgins' No.

13—but he gained some momentum as he won the next two frames to make it 8-5. Higgins, however, was not about to be reeled back in, and he moved to within one frame of victory with a visit of 69 in the 13th. He finished things off in style with his only century break of the match, scoring 106 to secure his path through to the last 16. It was clinical stuff from the 39-year-old, and such is his experience in the world championship, he has every chance of going deep in Sheffield this year. Graeme Dott 10-8 Ricky Walden Graeme Dott put in an impressive performance as he ousted world No. 7 Ricky Walden at the first-round stage of the World Championship on Sunday. The Scotsman held a narrow 5-4 lead as the pair got going again in Sunday's afternoon session. Dott took the first frame to lead by two, but breaks of 78 and 104 from Walden saw the Englishman draw level at 6-6. A Crucible classic looked on the cards, but Walden struggled as he missed a number of easy pots, the pressure showing.

Dott moved to within one frame of victory at 9-7, but Walden did excellently to battle back to within one as he took the 17th frame of a tense and exhilarating encounter. He looked as though he might be able to force a decider, but Dott eventually outmanoeuvred his opponent to edge through to the next round and send Walden crashing out, per World Snooker : "WIN: Ricky Walden is the first seed out of this year's championship! Graeme Dott defeats the man from Chester 10-8 #ilovesnooker @Betfred ." Dott had to come through three rounds of qualifying to make it to this year's world championship, and the 2006 Crucible champion showed why he is a man to be feared in Sheffield this year. Walden put up an excellent fight and put together some fantastic breaks in a gripping match, but inconsistency eventually cost him a place in the last 16.

Marco Fu 10-6 Jimmy Robertson Hong Kong’s Marco Fu showcased his class in the latter stages of the match with Jimmy Robertson, racing to a 10-6 victory and booking his spot in the last 16 of the competition. Fu has a terrible record in the first round at the Crucible, losing nine of his previous opening 15 matches at the iconic Sheffield venue. But he served up a reminder of his undeniable talent in this one. After boasting a one-frame lead coming into the day, the World No. 11 took control of the match towards the climax. As Matt of Pro Snooker Blog noted, Fu constructed a couple of quality clearances with the score at 5-5 to put daylight between the two players: "Hawkins and Selt now level at 1-1. Livescores still down on table two but I believe Fu has made breaks of 70 and 88 in the last two frames." From that point on, Fu didn’t look back. Robertson did have a chance to make it seven frames a piece at one stage in the game but failed to capitalise on the opportunity.

Indeed, once the Hong Kong star took the 14th frame to go 8-6 up, his opponent resembled a beaten man. As the World Snooker Twitter feed noted, Fu finished the match off in style too: "WIN: 73 break from Marco Fu secures the victory and a place in round 2! [10-6] #ilovesnooker @Betfred ." The talent of the 37-year-old has never been disputed, but aside from his run to the semi-finals at this competition in 2006, he’s never quite showcased his best form at the Crucible. For his supporters, hopefully this win will enrich his temperament and prompt another run to the latter stages of snooker’s most prestigious competition. Neil Robertson 7-2 Jamie Jones Neil Robertson looked in irresistible form on Sunday afternoon, as he cruised into a 7-2 lead against Welshman Jamie Jones. The Australian stormed into a 6-0 lead, playing some quite incredible snooker. His 143 break in the third frame was impeccable, but a 109 visit to make it 5-0 was arguably equally impressive.

Jones finally got a frame on the board to make it 6-1, to his great delight, and he won the next frame also, before Robertson finished the session with a 7-2 lead. The pair will complete their match on Monday afternoon. Barry Hawkins 7-2 Matthew Selt Barry Hawkins won five frames in succession prior to the end of the morning session to take a massive step towards the last 16 at the expense of Matthew Selt. It means that the 35-year-old boasts a 7-2 lead when the two men resume their duel on Monday morning. As the final frame summed up, Selt had plenty of opportunities in the match, but time after time, he let Hawkins off the hook, as Matt of Pro Snooker Blog's noted : "Hawkins looking to win the final frame of this session from 0-44, up to 56 and counting, on the yellow..." Credit must go to the man known as The Hawk, though. He was ruthless when the opportunities came about, bagging breaks of 91, 64, 70 and 65 on the way to a five-frame lead.

With Hawkins in such excellent break-building form and Selt profligate with his chances, this game looks poised to go only one way when this pairing takes to the table again. Aijaz Rahi/Associated Press Mark Selby 10-9 Kurt Maflin Defending champion Mark Selby progressed to the second round after surviving a narrow evening session against Norwegian Crucible debutant, Kurt Maflin. Selby won 10-9 but was pushed all the way. The pressure of being the World Champion can be intense heading into a tournament, but Selby initially looked right at home from the very first frame with a sensational break of 84 to win 128-0. Maflin responded with a 96 break to square things up, before Selby kicked off the century count with a 108 after capitalising on an error from the debutant. However, this wasn’t the routine match Selby had likely envisaged. Maflin was producing some good snooker and getting amongst the balls well, and at 2-2, it looked like he was capable of a shock.

The Jester from Leicester then kicked into gear, though, as he won the next three frames in succession, including Frame 7 after a re-spotted black ball. The duo shared the final two frames of the match, leaving Selby to head into Saturday evening’s conclusion in a good position. Eventually, it took a late gaffe from Maflin to hand the defending champion the chance to win. The World Snooker official Twitter feed detailed what happened: — World Snooker (@WorldSnooker1) April 18, 2015 Selby calmly made quick work of the following frame. It was an assured turnaround after some early nerves appeared to stunt Selby's progress around the table. But Maflin refused to give in. He evened things up at nine apiece, but was denied a shock upset when Selby forced a decider. It was in the decider that the defending champion's class showed. After pushing such an illustrious opponent all the way, Maflin was philosophical in defeat, per the BBC Snooker official Twitter account: Heartbroken Kurt Maflin: "I was quite calm out there all day and felt pretty good.

I am happy but wished it went the other way." #bbcsnooker — BBC Snooker (@BBCSnooker) April 18, 2015 Ultimately though, Selby will have to play a lot better if he's going to beat the so-called "crucible curse." It's a run that's seen no defending champion retain his title. Selby is determined to beat the curse, per BBC Sport's Shamoon Hafez : "It is a curse and it is going to be difficult but I will just try my best. It shows how difficult the tournament is to win." Graeme Dott 5-4 Ricky Walden Graeme Dott holds a slender lead over Ricky Walden. Yet the Scot will rue squandering the chance to hit a maximum 147 break, per BBC Snooker: Nope. Missed red from Graeme Dott. Disappointing. Chance for Ricky Walden to hit back.

Live: pic.twitter.com/hxQ5XoVG5L — BBC Snooker (@BBCSnooker) April 18, 2015 Marco Fu 5-4 Jimmy Robertson Hong Kong potter Marco Fu edged in front of Englishman Jimmy Robertson in Saturday’s other match, setting up a tense finale in this race to 10 frames. Fu burst out of the traps and established a 3-1 lead without really breaking a sweat, but Robertson then sprung into life. A break of 80 made it 3-2, before he edged Fu out of the next two tense frames to take the lead. Fu, being the experienced professional he is, remained calm and took his chances when they arrived, though, making breaks of 56 and 66 to lead 5-4. While Fu will have come into the tie as the hot favourite, Robertson’s grit and determination means this match is perfectly poised. Based on this first session, it could well go all the way to a deciding frame. Elsewhere, John Higgins opened up an early 6-3 lead over Robert Milkins, while Anthony McGill leads Stephen Maguire by the same score, per the World Snooker official site .

Both players have a commanding lead for the opening round's first to 10 frames format. At the moment though, all the attention rightly belongs to Selby. He survived a true thriller and hit the pause button on all the "Crucible Curse" talk. Snooker World Championship 2015: Stuart Bingham's long wait for glory ends with Crucible triumph over Shaun Murphy | The Independent Snooker World Championship 2015: Stuart Bingham's long wait for glory ends with Crucible triumph over Shaun Murphy Bingham was long a rank-and-file cueman, until something clicked in his mid-thirties Monday 4 May 2015 22:24 BST Click to follow The Independent Online Stuart Bingham completed an 18-15 victory over Shaun Murphy at the Crucible Getty Stuart Bingham completed an astonishing transition from journeyman to king of the Crucible as he brilliantly beat Shaun Murphy to take the Betfred World Championship title.

The 38-year-old from Basildon defied expectations to see off Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump to reach his first final in Sheffield, and pulled off a stunning 18-15 triumph, finishing with a sparkling break of 88 as wife Michelle watched on with a huge smile across her face. Before the break was finished Bingham punched the air in jubilation. It made him the oldest world champion since Ray Reardon, at 45, won in 1978. Bingham showed the composure of a player who had been playing Crucible finals for many years, rather than one who in eight previous visits had reached the quarter-final stage only once, which was the reality. For a large part of his career, Bingham has been a rank-and-file cueman, with contesting finals or even semi-finals a pipe dream until something clicked in his mid-thirties. Fifteen years ago he caused a sensation by beating defending champion Stephen Hendry in the first round at the World Championship, however for five years in a row, beginning in 2003, he failed to even qualify.

Landing a pair of ranking titles, in Australia and then China, has marked him out as a dangerman, but not even Bingham was expecting this. The world number 10 suspected the day would not come after becoming accustomed to early exits in Sheffield, and had a disbelieving look about him in the early stages of the match. He trailed 3-0 and 8-4, but crucially got back to 9-8 behind after Sunday's play, and as Murphy faltered he swept ahead on Monday afternoon, creaming off the first four frames to go 12-9 in front. When the match reached 15-12, Murphy had problems, and when he trailed 55-0 in the next frame those problems deepened. Then Bingham over-cut a black and a glimmer of hope presented itself to Murphy. He cleared up with 75, and won the next frame too with a 64 break to nudge to just a frame behind. Murphy was on a quest to become the sixth man to win more than once at the Crucible, following his success a decade ago.

His idol Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Mark Williams and Ronnie O'Sullivan are the players with multiple wins. Murphy needed three chances to take the 30th frame, and Bingham, faltering just at the wrong time, obliged with them. His three-frame lead was history. Murphy gave away 38 points in fouls in the next frame, after being put in two problematic snookers, and when attempting to escape from a third he left Bingham the yellow. It had reached an hour in duration when the pair took a toilet break, with the frame still unresolved, never mind the match. Eventually, after 63 minutes and 31 seconds, Bingham fired in the pink to nudge 16-15 ahead, two frames from the title. Bingham's newest fan, former tennis star Martina Navratilova, wrote on Twitter: "This frame was the equivalent of a 18:16 set or something like that...wow" And it was just one frame required when he made 55 in taking the next, with Murphy then handing Bingham a golden chance to complete his triumph.

Going for broke by taking on a long red, Murphy missed it by a large margin and Bingham completed his greatest win. PA Betfred World Snooker Championship In Sheffield 2016 There are no upcoming events at this time. About Snooker Championship in Sheffield Photo: Rob Matthews 2015 World Snooker also known as the 2015 Betfred World Snooker Championship is a professional ranking snooker tournament, season 2014/2015, which was held from 18 April to 4 May 2015 in the Crucible Theatre (Sheffield, England). This is the 78th World Snooker Championship. Stuart Bingham became the World Champion for the first time, who took down Sean Murphy in the final with the score 18:15. The Championship comprises three qualifying rounds, which take place within eight days from 8 to 15 April 2015 in the international sports center «Ponds Forge», Sheffield and includes 128 participants.

16 winners of the last qualifying round entered the Crucible, where they were joined by the first 16 seeded players, and, since 1/16, they all play a shootout. In the arena of the Crucible Theatre there are 2 gaming tables in the first 3 rounds of the tournament, and in the semi-final and final – one. World Snooker Championship is sponsored by Betfred until 2017. It is also known as the most important and long-expected events among snooker fans all over the world. This event is very spectacular because every spring the best of the best players demonstrate their craftsmanship, endurance and strong desire to win the coveted trophy – £300 000. The total prize pool was raised to £ 1.364 million from the previous £ 1,214,000. The modern greats of the snooker championship nowadays are Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stuart Bingham, Shaun Murphy and Stephen Hendry, whose skill and professionalism attract views of nearly 400 million people all over the world.

Question: Who won the 2015 Betfred World Snooker Championship, held at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield?
Answer: Stuart Bingham